From Staff Reports

 The 9th Annual Montford Music & Arts Festival reportedly drew more than 6,800 people — its largest-ever crowd — during the all-day neighborhood celebration on a sunny, balmy May 19.

In addition to a musical lineup that was headlined by the traditional bluegrass of David Holt and the Lightning Bolts, there were numerous colorful booths featuring local artwork, unusual clothing, local crafts and services.

Besides Holt and his band, other performers included Kon Tiki, Ira Bernstein and John Hermann, Buncombe Turnpike, Snake Oil Medicine Show, Free Flow Band, WestSound, Evergreen EMBE Marimba Band, Dub Kartel, Bittersweet, The Secret B Sides, The Judas Horse, Lyric, Jahman Brahman, Pick Your Switch and the Swayback Sisters.

In addition, the Montford Park Players were performing scenes from their then-current production of “The Complete Works of Shakespeare (Abridged).”

Also entertaining the crowd were The Mountain Lion Dragon Dancers, which snaked through the crowd; the dancing of the Asheville Morris Men, the Ashgrove Garland Dancers — and a Maypole celebration, as well as children’s activities.